Shillong: In a shocking incident reported from Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district, an octogenarian man was allegedly buried alive by members of his family for practicing "witchcraft." The three prime accused in the case have been arrested by the police.
Confirming the news to media, Herbert G Lyngdoh, the West Khasi Hills superintendent of police, said that the police was informed on October 10 that the elderly person had disappeared from his home at Mawliehbah Mawnar under the Nongstoin Police Station.
The victim, identified as a certain Morris Marngar, was reportedly taken by his nephews to Nongdisong village. There, he was confined in a house belong to his niece.
Morris was taken to Pordidoh at the Nongdisong village at around 7 pm on October 7, where he was buried alive. According to reports, his family members suspected Morris of practicing "witchcraft" and casting an evil spell on his family.
Although 18 suspects managed to flee the spot, 3 of the main accused Densil Marngar (40), Jales Marngar (27) and Diberwell Marngar (30), were arrested by police. Meanwhile, a search operation to nab the missing suspects has already been launched by the local police.
What makes this gruesome murder all the more shocking is that the victim apparently did not have any bad track records and was respected by everyone in the community.
BS Roy Nongphud, the secretary of the Village Council, told scribes that the deceased octogenarian was "well respected" in the community. Locals have demanded strict punishment against the accused persons.
This incident has been reported merely days after a 50-year-old woman and an unrelated 28-year-old man in Assam's Karbi Anglong were killed and cremated together after a kangaroo court, held in the courtyard of the village headman, held them responsible for practicing 'witchcraft'.